The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) and the National Park Service (NPS) are joining together this Valentine’s Day to observe the 82nd birthday of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (NMP). Festivities will begin on Thursday, February 12, 2009 with a news conference at the Fredericksburg Area Museum’s old Town Hall facility.

Participating in the news conference will be Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP Superintendent Russ Smith, Spotsylvania County Board Chairman Hap Connors, and Fredericksburg City Council Member Matt Kelly. They will be joined by representatives of local preservation groups and other park partners.

During the news conference, CWPT and NPS will announce a new marketing campaign that combines the park’s Valentine’s Day birthday and efforts to encourage heritage tourists to visit the region. The campaign, dubbed “I Love Fred-Spot” after the affectionate nickname of the National Park, encourages visitors to “fall in love with history.” The campaign will promote both the park and neighboring historic sites, businesses and restaurants.

The news conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the former City Council Chambers at the Fredericksburg Area Museum’s historic Town Hall facility on Princess Anne Street in downtown Fredericksburg.

WHAT: News conference to observe 82nd birthday of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

WHERE: Council Chambers at the Fredericksburg Area Museum’s Old Town Hall Facility, 1001 Princess Anne St., Fredericksburg, Va.

With 60,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s remaining Civil War battlefields. Since 1987, the organization has saved more than 25,000 acres of hallowed ground, including 521 acres associated with Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP. CWPT’s website is located at www.civilwar.org.